DOCSLIB.ORG

Boosterism" and Locational Analysis Or One Man's Swan Is Another Man's Goose David Knight

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Boosterism Document generated on 09/30/2021 10:08 p.m. Urban History Review Revue d'histoire urbaine "Boosterism" and Locational Analysis or One Man's Swan is Another Man's Goose David Knight Number 3-73, February 1974 URI: https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1020599ar DOI: https://doi.org/10.7202/1020599ar See table of contents Publisher(s) Urban History Review / Revue d'histoire urbaine ISSN 0703-0428 (print) 1918-5138 (digital) Explore this journal Cite this article Knight, D. (1974). "Boosterism" and Locational Analysis or One Man's Swan is Another Man's Goose. Urban History Review / Revue d'histoire urbaine, (3-73), 10–16. https://doi.org/10.7202/1020599ar All Rights Reserved © Urban History Review / Revue d'histoire urbaine, 1974 This document is protected by copyright law. Use of the services of Érudit (including reproduction) is subject to its terms and conditions, which can be viewed online. https://apropos.erudit.org/en/users/policy-on-use/ This article is disseminated and preserved by Érudit. Érudit is a non-profit inter-university consortium of the Université de Montréal, Université Laval, and the Université du Québec à Montréal. Its mission is to promote and disseminate research. https://www.erudit.org/en/ 10 "BOOSTERISM" AND LOCATIONAL ANALYSIS OR ONE MAN'S SWAN IS ANOTHER MAN1S GOOSE Why is "something" (be it a railway, government office, factory, housing development, or whatever else) located where it is? This simple question can be explored numerous ways although Geographers generally approach it from the standpoint of location theory in which emphasis is placed on economic factors. Non-economic factors not heretofore given adequate consideration include what I call "boosterism", or the exaggerated proclamation of worth of a particular place over all others. The development of "boosterism" probably begins with one or two individuals but then may grow, especially if newspapers are involved. Of course, the aggressive proclamation of worth of one place over all others is not universally accepted, hence the subtitle of this paper - "one man's swan is another man's goose". The purpose of this brief paper is to outline something of the role of "boosterism" in the seat of government issue in Nineteenth Century Canada. While the ultimate selection of Ottawa as capital was made in Britain and then accepted by the Legislative Assembly in Canada, some inhabitants of the various cities under consideration were involved in putting forth the relative merits of their city. Such certainly was 2 the case in Ottawa during the crucial 1857-1859 period, but for the moment this paper will concentrate only on the pre-union period, that is, prior to the selection of Kingston as the new capital of the united Canadas. Bytown (as Ottawa was called until 1855) came into existence in 1826 on a forest and swamp site near the confluence of the Rideau and Ottawa Rivers, and was laid out by, and named after, Colonel John By, chief officer of the Royal Engineers who were responsible for constructing the Rideau Canal. Several years before settlement began in Bytown itself, Lord Dalhousie, the Governor in Chief of British North America, planned for a fortified town, so what is now Parliament Hill may well have become the site of a military fortress. Colonel By also considered constructing 11 a fortress on the site and the Royal Engineers even went so far as to develop a plan for it. Barracks were built on part of the land which Dalhousie eariier had reserved for Crown use. It is also believed that while visiting the site in 1822 Dalhousie said: "I may not live so long, but whoever lives to see the Canadas united, will, from this 3 eminence, see the seat of the United Legislature." Several other persons, including Colonel By also are reputed to have made similar comments. Bytown grew rapidly and was described by Bouchette in 1828 as having houses ,fof neatness and taste and streets laid out with much regularity, and of a liberal width that will hereafter contribute to the convenience, solubriety and elegance of the place.11 The population of Bytown in 1830 was said by the Perth Examiner to fluctuate because of "the greater or less demand for labour originating in the slowness or rapidity which the public works (principally the canal) are carried on." Another influence was the lumber trade, for, by 1830, Bytown had become the centre of the Ottawa Valley forest industry. Perhaps it was principally because of these two factors, that is the canal and the timber industry plus the perceived strategic importance of the site, that in 1830 the representative for Carleton presented to the Upper Canada House of Assembly the idea that Bytown was "the proper o place for the seat of government", even though the town then had less than 1,000 permanent residents. In 1835, in a letter between two prominent citizens of the Bytown region, it was suggested that for the capital of a united Canada: Quebec CwasH too distant from the west - Montreal indefensible - any place on the St. Lawrence too near the Enemy - and wherever it Cthe capital!! may, it must in the first instance be attended by a heavy expense...9 The letter went on: "no part of Canada is so well fitted for the purpose Eof capital!! as Bytown", because it was equidistant between the two extremes of the country, a "reasonable distance from the frontier", there was "nearly enough of building stone about it", and, it was added, "with respect also to solubriety it is not exceeded by any place in the world"!10 12 The survival of the above letter tells us that the idea was being generated, at least among the local elite, for proposing Bytown as the capital of an anticipated union. But while local private discussion was undoubtedly continued, the public airing of the idea began in earnest when Dr. A.J. Christie started publishing the Bytown Gazette on June 9, 1836, for, until his death in 1843, the newspaper carried numerous editorials by Christie on why Bytown should be capital. The editorials stimulated others to respond, either in "letters to the editor" section of the Bytown Gazette or in editorials in newspapers 12 in other cities, including Quebec, Montreal, Kingston, and Toronto. It is worthwhile noting that the many arguments advanced by Christie, and also by the authors of some of the letters printed in the newspaper, were essentially the reasons which ultimately led to 13 the site being selected as seat of government. To summarize from the many editorials: Christie questioned the defensiveness of the towns along the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario and he suggested also that they were vulnerable to republican ideas and principles. Bytown, of course, would, he thought, be free from such dangers since it was away from the border and the site was militarily strong as well as being in the centre of the proposed united provinces and yet surrounded by a "loyal population". Interestingly, he further suggested that Bytown might be: selected as the Capital of the united Canadas without exciting those jealousies which could arise from the choice of any other place. ^ Other reasons he discussed included the inducement to new settlement in the Ottawa Valley that the seat of government in Bytown would give, new revenues would be generated for the Rideau Canal which provided easy communication between the St. Lawrence and the west, the presence of government owned property in Bytown, and the grandeur and beauty of the scenery. To criticism that Bytown was but an "embryo city consisting of a few houses huddled together" he asked if there was "the capital of any country under the sun which was not at one time in this condition." So convinced was Christie of Bytown's advantages for the site of the seat of government, that he seems to have assumed that his town was 13 the only logically possible location and therefore would be selected. Although he was ahead of his time in his conviction and Kingston was selected as the new capital of the united Canadas, Christie's writings spurred and also echoed "boosterism" in Bytown. The residents of the town thus demonstrated and voiced, sentiments not unusual to any one place or time. Some residents of Bytown hated the name, so others were suggested. In 1835, for instance, Baker expressed the belief that a "more classical name11 was needed and he suggested lf'Aberdeen1 in gratitude to the present Colonial Minister despite my reluctance to the Scottish sound 18 of the name." Several years later, shortly before Governor Sydenham was to announce his selection for the seat of government, Christie and Derbishire (who was to be Bytown1s first representative to the new Legislative Assembly) discussed the idea of changing the name from 19 Bytown to Sydenham. Derbishire wrote of mentioning the "delicate 20 matter" to Syndenham, but the Governor seems not to have been swayed by this generous suggestion for he chose not to select Bytown - or Sydenham! - as his capital. Indeed, but unbeknown to Canadians, he had 21 already ruled out Bytown as the location for the seat of government. Residents of Bytown and the town's other supporters have left us evidence in the form of letters, memoirs, and material contributed to the local newspaper, which tells us that a sort of campaign was mounted in an attempt to "boost" Bytown into being considered for the seat of government. In the years following 1841 pressures continued, finding a 22 new forum in the Legislative Assembly. All through the period, that is, from the 1830's until 1859 when the site of Ottawa was finally 23 accepted by the Legislative Assembly, Bytown/Ottawa "boosters" were active in furthering their claims over the claims for all other places.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Urban and Historic Context
    Architectural Rejuvenation Project URBAN AND HISTORIC CONTEXT Barry Padolsky Associates Inc., Architects, Urban Design and Heritage Consultants February 13, 2015 Aerial view of National Arts Centre (2010) TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction..................................................................................................................................2 Urban and Historic Context........................................................................................................2 . The Holt/Bennett Plan ................................................................................................................4 The Gréber Plan .........................................................................................................................6 The Parkin Plan ...........................................................................................................................8 Architecture and National Identity: the Centennial Projects .......................................................9 NAC: The Architectural Challenge ............................................................................................10 The Architectural Response .....................................................................................................13 Architectural Style: Polite “Brutalism” ......................................................................................16 Re-inventing “Brutalism”..........................................................................................................17 NCC Canada’s
    [Show full text]
  • 2.6 Settlement Along the Ottawa River
    INTRODUCTION 76 2.6 Settlement Along the Ottawa River In spite of the 360‐metre drop of the Ottawa Figure 2.27 “The Great Kettle”, between its headwaters and its mouth, the river has Chaudiere Falls been a highway for human habitation for thousands of years. First Nations Peoples have lived and traded along the Ottawa for over 8000 years. In the 1600s, the fur trade sowed the seeds for European settlement along the river with its trading posts stationed between Montreal and Lake Temiskaming. Initially, French and British government policies discouraged settlement in the river valley and focused instead on the lucrative fur trade. As a result, settlement did not occur in earnest until the th th late 18 and 19 centuries. The arrival of Philemon Source: Archives Ontario of Wright to the Chaudiere Falls and the new British trend of importing settlers from the British Isles marked the beginning of the settlement era. Farming, forestry and canal building complemented each other and drew thousands of immigrants with the promise of a living wage. During this period, Irish, French Canadians and Scots arrived in the greatest numbers and had the most significant impact on the identity of the Ottawa Valley, reflected in local dialects and folk music and dancing. Settlement of the river valley has always been more intensive in its lower stretches, with little or no settlement upstream of Lake Temiskaming. As the fur trade gave way to farming, settlers cleared land and encroached on First Nations territory. To supplement meagre agricultural earnings, farmers turned to the lumber industry that fuelled the regional economy and attracted new waves of settlers.
    [Show full text]
  • Geographic Names
    GEOGRAPHIC NAMES CORRECT ORTHOGRAPHY OF GEOGRAPHIC NAMES ? REVISED TO JANUARY, 1911 WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1911 PREPARED FOR USE IN THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE BY THE UNITED STATES GEOGRAPHIC BOARD WASHINGTON, D. C, JANUARY, 1911 ) CORRECT ORTHOGRAPHY OF GEOGRAPHIC NAMES. The following list of geographic names includes all decisions on spelling rendered by the United States Geographic Board to and including December 7, 1910. Adopted forms are shown by bold-face type, rejected forms by italic, and revisions of previous decisions by an asterisk (*). Aalplaus ; see Alplaus. Acoma; township, McLeod County, Minn. Abagadasset; point, Kennebec River, Saga- (Not Aconia.) dahoc County, Me. (Not Abagadusset. AQores ; see Azores. Abatan; river, southwest part of Bohol, Acquasco; see Aquaseo. discharging into Maribojoc Bay. (Not Acquia; see Aquia. Abalan nor Abalon.) Acworth; railroad station and town, Cobb Aberjona; river, IVIiddlesex County, Mass. County, Ga. (Not Ackworth.) (Not Abbajona.) Adam; island, Chesapeake Bay, Dorchester Abino; point, in Canada, near east end of County, Md. (Not Adam's nor Adams.) Lake Erie. (Not Abineau nor Albino.) Adams; creek, Chatham County, Ga. (Not Aboite; railroad station, Allen County, Adams's.) Ind. (Not Aboit.) Adams; township. Warren County, Ind. AJjoo-shehr ; see Bushire. (Not J. Q. Adams.) Abookeer; AhouJcir; see Abukir. Adam's Creek; see Cunningham. Ahou Hamad; see Abu Hamed. Adams Fall; ledge in New Haven Harbor, Fall.) Abram ; creek in Grant and Mineral Coun- Conn. (Not Adam's ties, W. Va. (Not Abraham.) Adel; see Somali. Abram; see Shimmo. Adelina; town, Calvert County, Md. (Not Abruad ; see Riad. Adalina.) Absaroka; range of mountains in and near Aderhold; ferry over Chattahoochee River, Yellowstone National Park.
    [Show full text]
  • The Plan for Canada's Capital
    Judicial i This page is intentionally left blank for printing purposes. ii The Plan for Canada’s Capital 2017 to 2067 NATIONAL CAPITAL COMMISSION June 2016 iii The Capital of an extensive country, rapidly growing in population and wealth, possessed of almost unlimited water power for manufacturing purposes, and with a location admirably adapted not only for the building of a great city, but a city of unusual beauty and attractiveness. (…) Not only is Ottawa sure to become the centre of a large and populous district, but the fact that it is the Capital of an immense country whose future greatness is only beginning to unfold, (…) and that it be a city which will reflect the character of the nation, and the dignity, stability, and good taste of its citizens. Frederick Todd, 1903 “Preliminary Report to the Ottawa Improvement Commission” pp.1-2 iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY For more than a century, the National Capital Commission (NCC) and its predecessors have embraced urban planning to promote the development, conservation and improvement of the National Capital Region, with the aim of ensuring that the nature and character of the seat of the Government of Canada is in accordance with its national significance. The consequences of these planning efforts have been the creation of parks and open spaces, public shorelines, campuses and clusters of government institutions, monuments and symbolic boulevards. This plan charts the future of federal lands in the National Capital Region between Canada’s sesquicentennial in 2017 and its bicentennial in 2067. It will shape the use of federal lands, buildings, parks, infrastructure and symbolic spaces to fulfill the vision of Canada’s Capital as a symbol of our country’s history, diversity and democratic values, in a dynamic and sustainable manner.
    [Show full text]
  • "The Bytown Gunners: the History of Ottawa's Artillery, 1855-2015 (Book
    Canadian Military History Volume 27 | Issue 2 Article 8 10-17-2018 "The yB town Gunners: The iH story of Ottawa’s Artillery, 1855-2015 (Book Review)" by Kenneth W. Reynolds Major (Ret'd) M.R. McNorgan Recommended Citation McNorgan, Major (Ret'd) M.R. (2018) ""The yB town Gunners: The iH story of Ottawa’s Artillery, 1855-2015 (Book Review)" by Kenneth W. Reynolds," Canadian Military History: Vol. 27 : Iss. 2 , Article 8. Available at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol27/iss2/8 This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. McNorgan: "The Bytown Gunners (Book Review)" by Kenneth W. Reynolds 20 Book Reviews Kenneth W. Reynolds. The Bytown Gunners: The History of Ottawa’s Artillery 1855-2015. Ottawa: 30th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA, 2017. Pp. 320. The 30th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery has a long, distinguished and colourful history. It now, thanks to Ken Reynolds and his talented colleagues, also has a regimental history fully worthy of its many accomplishments. The regiment is affectionately known as “the Bytown Gunners,” a tribute to its hometown of Ottawa, Ontario. This new history is appropriately titled The Bytown Gunners: The History of Ottawa’s Artillery, 1855-2015. The 30th Field Artillery Regiment itself dates back to 1905 when it was formed as the 8th Brigade of Field Artillery. Artillery brigades became artillery regiments during the Second World War, and the designation 30th was acquired in 1946 following the post-war reorganisation of the Canadian Army.
    [Show full text]
  • Historical Portraits Book
    HH Beechwood is proud to be The National Cemetery of Canada and a National Historic Site Life Celebrations ♦ Memorial Services ♦ Funerals ♦ Catered Receptions ♦ Cremations ♦ Urn & Casket Burials ♦ Monuments Beechwood operates on a not-for-profit basis and is not publicly funded. It is unique within the Ottawa community. In choosing Beechwood, many people take comfort in knowing that all funds are used for the maintenance, en- hancement and preservation of this National Historic Site. www.beechwoodottawa.ca 2017- v6 Published by Beechwood, Funeral, Cemetery & Cremation Services Ottawa, ON For all information requests please contact Beechwood, Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa ON K1L8A6 24 HOUR ASSISTANCE 613-741-9530 • Toll Free 866-990-9530 • FAX 613-741-8584 [email protected] The contents of this book may be used with the written permission of Beechwood, Funeral, Cemetery & Cremation Services www.beechwoodottawa.ca Owned by The Beechwood Cemetery Foundation and operated by The Beechwood Cemetery Company eechwood, established in 1873, is recognized as one of the most beautiful and historic cemeteries in Canada. It is the final resting place for over 75,000 Canadians from all walks of life, including im- portant politicians such as Governor General Ramon Hnatyshyn and Prime Minister Sir Robert Bor- den, Canadian Forces Veterans, War Dead, RCMP members and everyday Canadian heroes: our families and our loved ones. In late 1980s, Beechwood began producing a small booklet containing brief profiles for several dozen of the more significant and well-known individuals buried here. Since then, the cemetery has grown in national significance and importance, first by becoming the home of the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces in 2001, being recognized as a National Historic Site in 2002 and finally by becoming the home of the RCMP National Memorial Cemetery in 2004.
    [Show full text]
  • 1.0 Introduction
    1.0 INTRODUCTION This Environmental Project Report assesses the effects of the proposed Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel (DOTT) project on the social, physical and natural environments. The City of Ottawa, as proponent, has prepared this Environmental Project Report in accordance with the Province of Ontario’s Transit Project Assessment Process (Regulation 231/08 under the Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act). This section provides the background and overview of the study including location and rationale for the proposed project, relationship of the proposed project to other transportation-related studies and an outline of the entire report contents. Sections Include: 1.1 Project Description 1.2 Purpose of the Project 1.3 Study Background 1.4 Relationship with Other Studies, Projects and Future Undertakings 1.5 Report Organization 1-1 1.1 Project Description and vehicles to service these lines, as well as bus rapid transit electric light rail transit from Tunney's Pasture Station to Blair Ottawa's Transportation Master Plan (TMP) contains a vision technology and additional bus lanes. Figure 1-1 illustrates the Station along the Transitway and through a tunnel underneath for transit to be developed by 2031. In the first phase, the City planned rapid transit network for the City of Ottawa, out to the the downtown core. of Ottawa will invest in 40 km of new light rail transit (LRT) year 2031. The cornerstone and first phase of this plan is to run Figure 1-1: TMP Rapid Transit Network 1-2 The Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel (DOTT): Tunney’s The most important feature of the project involves construction this segment of the City’s rapid transit network to the year 2031 Pasture to Blair Station via a Downtown LRT Tunnel, will see of a new LRT tunnel to replace the existing on-street BRT and beyond.
    [Show full text]
  • Ontario History Scholarly Journal of the Ontario Historical Society Since 1899
    Ontario History Scholarly Journal of The Ontario Historical Society Since 1899 Papers and Records [called Ontario History after 1946] Volume XIII, 1915 Published by The Ontario Historical Society, 1915 The Ontario Historical Society Established in 1888, the OHS is a non-profit corporation and registered charity; a non- government group bringing together people of all ages, all walks of life and all cultural backgrounds interested in preserving some aspect of Ontario's history. Learn more at www.ontariohistoricalsociety.ca. ~ (Bntarin ifiiztnrizal §u£i2t'g PAPERS AND RECORDS VOL. XIII. TORONTO PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY 1915 ~ . ., .1, ,. _v_ 11.. Qlitttarin Z%i5tnrital fillfifig a-.'*':!m:'F;-‘~'—-.fi:':.f:.V (Incorporated by Act of the Legislature of Ontario, April 1st, 1899.) HOME OF THE SOCIETY Normal School Building, St. James Square, Toronto OFFICERS 1914-1915 HONORARY PRESIDENT The Hon‘ Robert A. Pyne, M.A., L1..D., )I.P.1—’., Minister of Education. Toronto. PRESIDENT Clurnnce l!{.Warm-r Napanee VICIELPRESIDENTS Sir Edmund Walker, C.V.O., TiL.D., D.C.L.. F.R.S.C. Toronto iL\liss.I:u1et Cnrnoehan Niagara and the Presidents of affiliated Societies. ~ COUNCILLORS . .. Ottawa . Mrs. Bruddisli Billings . J. Stuart Curstairs,B.A. .. Toronto Alexander Fraser, LL.D., Litt.D., F.S.A.Scot. (Edin.) . .. Toronto . .. Josepli 1.. Gilmour, B.A., D.D. (1\IcMaster University) . Toronto ’s Kingston \V. L. Grant, M.A., F.R.S.C. (Queen Uni\'ersit_\,') . .. .. .. Thomas .1:i1no.~a Henry Coyne, LL.D., F.R.S.C‘... .... .... .... .... .. St. Ex—President 1898-1902. Clm1'le.~.< Cnnnifl’ James, C.M.Gr., LL.D., F.R.S.C.
    [Show full text]
  • Ottawa Mental Health Community Resource Directory
    Homeless Shelters for Women Shelter Region Phone Number Cornerstone Oawa 613-237-4669 Shepherds of Good Hope- Hope Oawa 613-789-4179 Outreach Minwaashin Lodge Oawa 613-789-1141 (Indigenous Women and children) Groupe Entre-Femmes De L’Ts GaNneau 819-776-3694 The Grind Pembroke (613) 732-9423 ASer business hours call: (613) 401-4890 Sun-Sat, 4PM-10PM (only) *Info that has been highlighted should be removed from document before providing to pa:ents Homeless Shelters for Men Shelter Region Phone Number The O*awa Mission Oawa 613-234-1144 The SalvaNon Army Booth Centre Oawa 613-241-1573 front desk: 226 Shepherd’s of Good Hope Oawa 613-241-6494 The Grind Pembroke (613) 732-9423 ASer business hours call: (613) 401-4890 Sun-Sat, 4PM-10PM (only) Homeless Shelters for Youth Shelter Region Phone Number Carling Family Shelter Nepean 613-820-9909 Youth Services Bureau –Young Oawa 613-907-8975 Men’s Shelter (ages 16-21) Youth Service Bureau –Young Oawa 613-789-8220 Women’s Shelter (ages 16-21) Avenue Des Jeunes GaNneau 819-778-0634 St. Mary’s Home (young Oawa 613-749-2491 x1 pregnant women/teens) Brooke Willis, MSW RSW February 2021 Y Family Shelter (Offered Downtown Oawa Must be assessed by City of through YMCA) O*awa crisis worker: 613-560-6000 Shelters for Abused Women and Children Shelter Region Phone Number Harmony House Oawa 613-233-3386 Oshki Kizis/Minwaashin Lodge Oawa 613-741-5590 (for Indigenous Women) Sakeenah Homes (Islamic based) O*awa, Toronto, 1-888-671-3446 Ext 3 Brampton, London Nelson House Nepean 613-225-3129 Maison D’AmiNe Gloucester
    [Show full text]
  • Traffic and Transit Management and Construction Access
    Trillium Line Extension Project Agreement – Schedule 15-2, Part 7 Ottawa Stage 2 LRT Project Execution Version Table of Contents PART 7 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS – TRAFFIC AND TRANSIT MANAGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION ACCESS .................................................................. 1 ARTICLE 1 GENERAL TRAFFIC AND TRANSIT MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS ......................................................................................... 1 1.1 Order of Precedence .....................................................................................................1 1.2 General Requirements ..................................................................................................2 1.3 Accommodation of Transit Services ............................................................................7 1.4 Holidays and Special Events ........................................................................................8 1.5 Detour Route, Lane Shift, Diversion, Closure, and Construction Requirements ........9 1.6 Accommodation of Pedestrians and Cyclists During Construction ...........................18 1.7 Working within Vicinity of a Traffic Control Signal ................................................19 1.8 Parking and Designated Use Zones ...........................................................................19 1.9 Temporary Traffic Control Signals ............................................................................20 1.10 Record Keeping of Traffic Control Devices/Collisions ............................................20
    [Show full text]
  • Music and Well-Being: a Magical Connection
    Music and Well-Being: A Magical Connection By Linda Vanderlee [Editor’s note: This is part 2 of Linda’s article Music has both a mysterious and a magical When a meeting is stagnating or has gone Because we are social beings, a sense of on well-being and the arts that appeared in quality to me. The emotional range it can on for too long, I’ve taken to calling for a “five- belonging is an important factor in our the summer 2015 issue of Healthwise Ottawa.] evoke in us is endless: it can invite a needed minute dance party!” Some folks leap into it health. Joining a musical group can fulfil that cleansing cry, chase away our blues, or help us enthusiastically, others hesitantly. Before long, for us and in Ottawa there is no shortage. The WATCHED IN AWE as the young express emotion in times of joy and gratitude. though, shoulders drop, foreheads smooth Bytown Ukulele Group (BUG), almost 100 mom ahead of me in the checkout line I love that a song written specifically for one out, and eyes soften, reflecting the smiles on people with a wide range of ages and skills, dealt with her tired two-year-old. As he person ends up having meaning for others everyone’s lips. It works wonders…even for boasts a welcoming sing- and play-along I too; that what is experienced as personal those who chose simply to tap their feet. The the third Wednesday of every month at the wiggled and screamed in her arms, she began to sing him a song.
    [Show full text]
  • Anglo-Celtic Roots
    Anglo-Celtic Roots The Cowley Family Saga: From Sherwood Forest to the NHLȄPart 1© BY CHRISTINE JACKSON After researching her own family history in England for some 35 ǡͺͶͶ͸Ͷͷ͹ǯ voyage up the Ottawa River unexpectedly offered Christine an opportunity to research a pioneering Canadian family with deep Ǥ ǯ and their significant and sometimes colourful role in the development of the Ottawa Valley quickly became what is now an ongoing obsession. his is an account of an Ottawa ǯ 400th Valley pioneer FamilyȄthe anniversary of the French explorer- T Cowley familyȄwho arrived cartographer Samuel de Champlain here from England in the 1830s and, passing by our area on his way up ǡDzǤdz the Ottawa River. This article (Part I) traces the lives I have always been interested in the in Canada of some of the family history of my community, as well as members, while Part II will shed the age of my house on Cowley light on their English origins in Avenue, where I have lived for 25 Sherwood Forest and the English years. I had always known that my Midlands, and will speculate about street and several others in the what may have led one of them, at neighbourhood were named by the age of 65, to bring his young Robert H. Cowley, when he laid out family to British North America. the subdivision in 1903.2 My involvement with the history of He called it Riverside Park, although this family started early this year, the name had to be changed in 1950 when a friend sent me two papers (to Champlain Park) when this on the natural and human history of section of what was then Nepean our Ottawa neighbourhood of Township was annexed by the City Champlain Park, written by of Ottawa.
    [Show full text]